Yes, they can. But should they? And how? Those are questions about having armed security guards in Estes Park R-3 schools that the school board is facing. At their work session Monday afternoon at the administration building, they received guidance from Larimer County sheriff Justin Smith, Estes Park chief of police Wes Kufeld, commander Eric Rose, sheriff's sergeant Tim Sullivan and a representative from the board's law firm, Kristin C. Edgar, of Caplan and Earnest.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings in Newtown, Conn., in December, most schools are looking down the barrel of this alarming question: how do we keep it from happening here? The answer is, if an armed intruder is intent on doing damage, it's hard to stop him. But you can delay and deter him as much as possible, buy time and practice prevention, prevention, prevention and more prevention. Officials told the school board that such devices as metal detectors and arming those not adequately trained don't work. Asked whether they would participate in helping the board to pick and train personnel to be used as security officers, both Kufeld and Smith answered, "Absolutely."

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Providing the framework for the discussion, school superintendent Patrick Hickey played a video of an interview with Dr. Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center. The interview host noted that: "As one school official in suburban Washington, D.C., said, Newtown changed school security the way 9/11 changed air travel."

He then described a high school in Illinois, where administrators recently staged a lockdown drill, shooting blanks in the hallways, while the kids huddled in the classrooms with the doors locked and lights off.

That might be more extreme than planners here are contemplating, but they are looking for public input and options. Stephens said in the interview that the greatest challenge most school principals will face is simply managing incidents, whether a fight or bullying — which, left unchecked, he said, could escalate into something more serious. He suggested looking after the students more than "trying to create barricades and having SWAT teams ready to deal with an intruder who might come onto the campus."

So, schools have to be ready to react, without overreacting.

School board president Todd Jirsa observed that the four gun safety bills recently passed by the state legislature "didn't do anything" about the problem on campuses. The discussion needs to be centered on school safety, he said, and the legislature didn't address that. Hickey said there is much going on, around the issue, and we have an opportunity to have a discussion with law enforcement officials and to bring the community in, as well.

Edgar has been presenting talks about armed employees/security officers for schools throughout the area. According to Title 18 of the state law, she said, those individuals having concealed carry permits for a handgun can't carry it onto school grounds, unless it is locked in a vehicle, or they are acting as a security officer on duty with the school district. This does not, of course, pertain to law enforcement officials, she said, but only to citizens who are not members of law enforcement. Therefore, it is permissible for the schools to have employees with concealed carry permits, who are contracted with the district as school security officers.

Helping the district with risk management may sound simple, but brings with it a host of questions, such as insurance coverage, proper storage of weapons, proper training. Insurance companies are in the process of defining security guards and firearms and providing guidance. Edgar said it might be better for the schools to wait until the insurance companies enact policies. Asked whether such items as tasers and pepper spray are included in the discussion, officials said probably not, unless they are used in a criminal manner.

Smith stated flatly, that anything less than a firearm is ineffective when you are dealing with an armed individual.

Schools may also decide to act overtly or covertly, Edgar said, although she cautioned that "you can try to be quiet (about security personnel), but that is ultimately unsuccessful, depending on the community. It could be a political nightmare."

However, Jirsa said, school districts can exercise local control, and what may seem unpalatable in one location, may work in another. Edgar said it's fortunate when the schools and law enforcement have a good relationship and can coordinate in training staff to be in a school district with guns, responding to stressful situations.

Jirsa said that Kufeld held a training last week that was "phenomenal," and more of a personal approach to the protection of schools. Jirsa called the dedicated school resource officer (SRO), from the police department, "so incredible" and thanked the staff of the police department.

"We appreciate you," he told Kufeld.

Student member of the school board, junior Michael Ryan, also applauded the police department, on behalf of the student body. The participation of law enforcement — including eating lunch with the students — means a lot, he said.

"We have confidence in you. You're reassuring us," Ryan said.

Kufeld thanked the board and said the police department has no issue with appropriate staff carrying firearms. However, there are some concerns — how would the police identify the staff members, if it came to a firefight in a school. How would officers know who the good guys and the bad guys are, when they enter a situation involving multiple shooters. It's very possible that all those with weapons could be shot, he said.

If the school board decides to arm a staff member, Kufeld said, "it's your right." However, he encouraged board members to "train, train, train, train" and make sure law enforcement knows who they're training. He also encouraged the education of staff and increased building security. Those who want to be violent "are going to come in," despite many safety measures. But administrators can create a distance between the time they enter that will allow safety protocols to be put in place.

"Metal detectors don't really work," he said.

Simple changes can be made, though, to make our schools safer. Kufeld and Rose toured the campuses with Dave Coleson, director of maintenance, to identify areas needing attention.

Police officials are available to provide safety seminars at any time, he told the school board. It's also critical to identify bullying and stop it, he added.

"(Bullies) are potential active shooters. Education is key," he said.

Jirsa asked about police concern over those in the community with mental health issues, who might be capable of walking onto a campus and pulling a trigger. Kufeld agreed a shooter could be anybody.

"You just don't know," he said. "We have a severe lack of mental support in this county and state."

Although he said police officers keep tabs on those in Estes Park whom they suspect have mental issues, "We can't be there all the time."

Kufeld said the best response is to be ready, hope for the best and maintain a quiet confidence.

Smith told the board that the school district does have the authority to designate security personnel, if they choose, and often the visibility reassures people. He emphasized "prevention, prevention, prevention," identifying situations early, since there are often just moments or seconds in which things happen. Some of the district's employees would undoubtedly provide a good match for concealed carry armed guards, but proper training is of the utmost importance, he said. It takes proper psychological training, as well as physical training, to handle firearms, he said. Security guards typically earn between $10 and $15 an hour, and do not provide a consistent source of safety at one place, so he suggested a staff member would be more appropriate in the role.

Smith said he is not an advocate for supplying all kinds of armed guards into schools, but he also knows that those intent on doing harm do not follow an honor system. Those trained appropriately on the staff could provide another layer of protection. A standard for the training of security guards doesn't currently exist in the state of Colorado, he added.

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